Four yearsago (25 June 2012), Kurdish activists and friends of the Kurdish people from across Europe began a Permanent Vigil in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, calling for the freedom of Kurdish leader Abdullah OCALAN and other political prisoners in Turkey. The Kurds and their supporters have decided to continue this Permanent Vigil until Mr Abdullah OCALAN is released.

Campaigns for the freedom of Ocalan and peace in Kurdistan

During these three years, we have carried out a series of mass demonstrations and signature petitions for his release.

Earlier this year an international delegation (Imrali Peace Delegation) took the initiative to visit Turkey and the EU institutions to highlight the important role of Mr Ocalan for political negotiations and peace.

The last petition ended on the 13th February 2015 and we collected 10, 363, 000 signatures globally. The campaign was one of the biggest in the history of activism for the release of political prisoners.

Mr. Abdullah OCALAN has made a number of efforts to start a negotiation process with the Turkish state for a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish question, despite the obstructive politics being played by the AKP administration in Turkey.

EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR AFRIN

Life in Afrin

Weekly News Briefing

Jeremy Corbyn issues statement of support for the National Demo

Message from Jeremy Corbyn to Kurdish national demonstration in London:
“I’m sorry not to be able to be with you today, but I send a message of solidarity with today’s demonstration, and with the Kurdish people, under sustained attack across the Middle East.
The conflict in Syria has been the trigger for an onslaught against the Kurdish people, who are defending their autonomy and their rights.
We are watching closely the alarming events that have been unfolding in Turkey in recent weeks, including the killing of civilians and destruction of Kurdish homes.
Any negotiated settlement of the Syrian conflict must include peace and justice for the Kurds, including in Turkey. And the Turkish government needs as a matter of urgency to restart the peace process with the Kurds and respect the rights of all its people.
We call for an end to repression of the Kurds and justice for the Kurdish people throughout the Middle East.”

Destruction and Repression in North Kurdistan

Freedom for Ocalan!

On the 19th anniversary of his kidnap and imprisonment by Turkey, we renew our call for Abdullah Ocalan to be freed as part of a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question.